Grafton to Ballina road trip: Distance, drive time & attractions

The Grafton to Ballina drive covers a 136km distance in a driving time of around 1h32m. Good road trip stops to add to the itinerary include Maclean, the Jerusalem Creek Peninsula and Airforce Beach.

The drive from Grafton to Ballina connects two of the main hubs of the Northern Rivers region in New South Wales. These aren’t really the main tourist centres – you have to go to Byron Bay for the full circus – but both are pleasant enough towns to hang out in.

For Grafton accommodation picks, head here.

Book in advance for the best Ballina hotel deals.

Grafton to Ballina distance and driving time

By car, the distance from Grafton to Ballina is 136km. That makes for a driving time of around one hour and 32 minutes. There are, however, a few road trip stops worth adding to the itinerary.

Top Grafton accommodation options

The best places to stay in Grafton are:

For central location: Civic Motel.
For charm and personal touch: Andavine House Bed and Breakfast.
For a relatively cheap, good quality motel with a pool: Grafton Lodge Motel.

The Grafton to Ballina drive starts out along the Big River Way, and continues until it meets the Pacific Highway.

Get used to the Pacific Highway, as most of your journey will be along it.

Grafton to Ballina drive: Maclean and Yamba

The first town of any real size is Scottish-tinged Maclean. The Bicentennial Museum delves into that Scottish heritage, while the Ferry Park Gallery showcases the local art scene.

The Waterview Motel and Club Maclean are the best bets for an overnight stay in Maclean..

Just beyond Maclean comes the Harwood Bridge over the Clarence River. Turn east beforehand to reach the highly attractive coastal town of Yamba.

Here, the Calypso Yamba caravan park is one of several good Yamba accommodation options. Others include the affordable Aston Motel, the riverside Moby Dick and the gardens-flanked Blue Dolphin Holiday Resort.

Yamba beaches worth investigating include Turners Beach, Yamba Main Beach, Pippi Beach and Green Point Beach.

Grafton to Ballina road trip: Bundjalung National Park and Evans Head

Once north of the Clarence River, Bundjalung National Park fills the gap between the highway and the coast. The Esk and Evans rivers are ripe for canoeing along, while there are also a series of walking trails.

The ten minute walk to the Iluka Bluff Lookout is the best bet for a quick fix, while the 6km Jerusalem Creek Peninsula track from the Black Rocks campground is more involving.

The turn-off for Evans Head, another lovely beach town, is at Woodburn. Here, the Evans Head Heritage Aviation Museum tells the little-known story of the area’s enormous World War II training base.

Grafton to Ballina drive: Broadwater National Park

But the main draw is the 30km-long beach, which is called various names including Airforce Beach, Evans Head Beach, Broadwater Beach and Patches Beach. Most of it is part of Broadwater National Park

It runs up to the mouth of the Richmond River. Ballina is on the north bank, and the Burns Point Ferry can take you over if you stick to the coast rather than the highway.

5 Ballina experiences to book in advance

Go on a dolphin watching cruise – sightings are very reliable.
Take a guided coastal walk – learning about the natural environment on the way.
Clink glasses as the sun goes down – on a Richmond River sunset cruise.
Take a cruise to the Julian Rocks Marine Reserve – with a marine biologist pointing out the dolphins, turtles and dramatic cliffs.
Learn to surf – on a private surfing lesson.